jacobs



E. H. JACOBS.

DISCONNECTING SWITCH.

APPLICATION HLED JULY l5, ma.

Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

2 SHEEISSHEEI l.

E. H. JACOBS.

DISQONNECTING SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15. 1913.

1 39 1 O5 9 Patented Sept. 20, 1921.

2 SHEElS-SHEEI 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFIQE.

ERNEST H. JACOBS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

DISCONNECTING-SWITCI-I.

struction particularly intended for high tension transmission service, though it will be apparent that different features of my invention may be advantageously employed in switches of any character.

In transmissionv installations the disconnecting switch usually functions as an auxiliary switching element operating in conjunction with an oil circuit breaker or other type of switching device of high power interrupting capacity. In a typical power house or sub-station installation the disconnect switch is usually located between the transmission line and the oil circuit breaker. The duty of initially interrupting the current flow is performed by the oil circuit breaker, the function of the disconnect switch being to thereafter open the line where it enters the station and thus to disconnect all of the station apparatus, including the oil circuit breaker from the line. This enables repairs and adjustment of the circuit breaker and other apparatus to be performed without danger of injury from the line potential. v

Important objects of my invention are: to provide an improved insulator mounting for the switch characterized by a universal and interchangeable construction; to provide an improved insulator clamp; and to provide an improved form of switch terminal having provision for guiding the movable switch member into engagement with the terminal. In the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated one preferred embodiment of my invention to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and using the same, 7 Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the d n t swi h;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 20,1921.

Application filed July 15, 1918. Serial No. 244,830.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in sectlon and partly in elevation; taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the improved switch terminal; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the insulator clamp.

The insulator mounting for the switch conslsts of two insulators 66 supported obliquely in insulator clamps 7-7 attached to the oblique pedestals 8-8. The pedestals 8 have base flanges 9 which are secured to a channel bar 11 by bolts 12, passing down through holes in the Web of the channel. The channel 11 is, of course, simply illustrative of any suitable supporting surface.

An inclined flange 14 on the upper end of each pedestal 8 has secured thereto a plate 15, which is attached by cap screws 16. The insulator clamps and the insulator pins are secured to this plate, as illustrated in Fig. 2. The insulator 6 is preferably of the pett'icoat type adapted for either indoor or outdoor service. The head portion and the lower petticoat of the insulator are grooved to form the circumferential beads 17. These beads are of substantially the same diameter and accordingly .1 standard size of clamp may be employed on both ends of the may more readily conform to the periphery of the beads 17. For clamping the bands about the insulator beads, the ends of the bands are provided with laterally projecting ears 22 through which pass the bolts 23.

The clamp 7 is attached to the plate 15 by feet 24 integral with the bands, and projecting out radially at different points about the bands. These feet are provided with elongated holes 25 for the insertion of cap screws 26, which thread down into the plate 15. The holes 25 are elongated to compensate for slight inaccuracies in the insulator or clamps, and thus insure registration with the holes tapped in the plate 15. The feet 24 are made integral with the upper and lower portions of each band and thus prevent spreading of these portions when the bands are contracted tightly about the insulator bead 17 Insulator clamps, as heretofore constructed, have generally been so rigid and inflexible that they had a tendency to fracture the insulator beads if the same were slightly irregular or did not fit exactly in the clamps. The majority of these clamps have a radial flange at one edge to permit screwing of the clamps to the supporting surface. The sectional strength of this flange is radial to the clamps and tends to stiffen the same. In the present clamp this flange has been dispensed with through the provision of the feet 24 and it will be noted that the metal in the clamp is disposed soas to afford a certain degree of flexibility of the clamps. The clamps may be made of malleable iron, brass or bronze. I find that brass or bronze is more yielding and has less tendency to fracture the beads on the insulators.

An insulator pin 27 is cemented into a socket 28 in the insulator and is rigidly fastened to the plate 15 to prevent tilting or twisting of the insulator in the clamp 7 The socket 28 is a reduced continuation of the hollow formation 28 in the lower pettieoat and is preferably threaded so as to universally adapt the insulator to support upon different types of pins.

The cemented connection between the pin 27 and insulator 6 is reinforced by the cement 31 embedding in peripheral and longitudinal grooves 29 formed in the head of the pin 27. The lower end of the pin 27 has a stud 32 threading into the plate 15, and has diametrical cross arms 33 secured to the surfaces of the plate by screws 34 passing up through the flange 14 and plate 15. These arms are of half-round section and lie in a correspondingly shaped groove 35 extending diametrically across the bottom of the insulator 6. The pin 27 will obviously prevent turning of the insulator 6 in the clamp 7 through the engagement of the cross arms 33 in the groove 35, and it will, moreover, prevent lateral tilting of the insulator in the clamps due to the reinforcing action of the pin shank cemented in the socket 28.

A slightly modified type of clamp 36 engages over the bead on the head of the insulator 6. This clamp also divides into two clamping bands, one of which is formed integral with a socket plate 37 which is clamped to the head of the insulator.

A bracket 38 extends upright fromeach clamp 37 being fastened thereto by screws 39 passing through the base of the bracket and tapping into proper holes in the socket plate 37. The hinged terminal 41 is bolted to the rear bracket 38 and has an extending lug 42 adapted'for connection with the terminal clip on the line 43. The movable switch member is constructed of two paralwashers interposed between the blades. Thefree end of the switch member is adapted to engage over the switch terminal 45, with the switch blades engaging upon opposite sides of the terminal. Spring washers under the heads of the bolts 50, maintain firm contact between the switch blades 44 and switch terminal 45.

An eye 46 extending from between the ends of the switch blades 44 controls locking mechanism between the blades which cooperates with a hook 47 on the terminal 45. This locking mechanism is provided to prevent accidental opening of the switch. In throwing the switch the station attendant releases this locking mechanism by hooking the eye 46 with a suitable pole.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, the terminal 45 is formed integral with abase portion 48, which is secured to the bracket 38 by screws 49. This terminal has connection to the line 43 through the usual connector lug 51.

I have provided flaring guide members 52 upon each side of the terminal 45 for guiding the blades 44 over the top of the terminal 45. These guide members are of particular utility on switches having relatively long blades, such as the present switch, where slight play at the hinge terminal will frequently result in the blades swinging out of line with the other terminal. These guide members may be constructed of insulation or of metal. They are provided with feet 53 whichengage under the heads of the screws 49. When constructed of metal these guides will carry the arc'that may be drawn in opening the switch and will thus prevent burning of the terminal 45. They are preferably of copper and have yielding engagement with the sides of the spaced blades 44, thereby increasing the area of contact of the terminal.

The inclined position of the insulators 6 is advantageous in that it diminishes the transverse dimension of the switch without sacrificing any of the insulating capacity of the switch mounting.

The creepage distance is the distance from a line or a metallic charged line support measured along the surface of an insulator to the metallic support upon which the insulator is mounted. The striking distance is the shortest distance measured in a straight preserve a certain distance between the switch blade and the insulator metallic support, less than which is likely to destroy or fracture the insulator.

When we take these items into consideration in connection with the fact that insulators for any particular class of installation are now produced in certain definite and set sizes, it will be understood that any improvement which permits the increase of the creepage distance, or in other words the use of a larger size insulator without increasing other dimensions, is of great value in high tension work. By means of the inclined arrangement of the insulators in the present device I am enabled to use a larger size of insulator without increasing the distance between the line wire and the support than I could use were the insulators arranged vertical to the support and line wires. On the other hand, by using the same size insulator I can, if desired reduce the distance between the support and the line wire, which is of value in certain classes of installations. At first thought it might appear that the resistance of the creepage distance would be reduced when the inclined insulator is exposed to rain, on account of the reduction in overhang of the etticoats on the upper side of the in sulator. Such does not prove, however, to be the case in actual practice, as the added moist surface at the upper side of the insulator, on account of the inclination of the insulator, is relatively narrow and any creepage of current thereon soon dries off the moisture, thus increasing the creepage distance to' substantially that of an upright insulator, so that I am enabled to obtain the advantages above pointed out without any serious or detrimental increase of flow of current.

Furthermore, I have designed the mounting so that all striking distances are substantially the same and so that these striking distances bear a definite relation to the creepage distance of the insulators. This is to the end that all points of the mounting will have a uniform breakdown potential, so that dis charge will be just as liable to occur at one point as at another. This relation permits inclining of the insulators considerably, or until the several striking distances a, b, c and (Z are substantially the same. These striking distances are made to bear a definite relation to.the creepa-ge distance of the insulators, preferably considerably shorter inasmuch as their insulating power is greater due to the fact that they are not influenced by accumulations of moisture and the likev The striking distance d is slightly longer due to the higher position of the switch blade 44. By inclining the insulators in the present manner I am enabled to reduce the transverse dimension of the switch and thus decrease the head room necessary for throwing the Switch blade without effecting the insulating property of the mounting, and furthermore the switch may be mounted in vertical or horizontal position as the petticoats of the inclined insulators are equally effective in either position and even more efiective in any intermediate position.

However it will be apparent from the foregoing description that my improved switch may be readily adapted to positions other than that herein shown. The universal insulators and universal clamps permit ready substitution of upright or other styles of pedestals and other styles of brackets to conform the switch mounting to the different locations of the switch.

While I have illustrated and described a specific structure which embodies my invention, I am aware that numerous and extensive departures may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit of my invention which is defined in the following claims.

I claim 1. In combination, a base plate, a pair of inclined pedestals mounted thereon, clamps secured to said pedestals, insulators in axial alinement with said inclined pedestals sup ported in said clamps and projecting from inclined faces of said pedestals parallel with each other, clamps secured to the upper ends of said insulators, brackets extending upright from said latter clamps, switch terminals on said brackets, a switch blade pivoted to one of said terminals, a switch contact mounted on the other terminal, said switch blade when in switch-operated position lying substantially parallel to the said base plate.

2. In combination. a pair of pedestals, insulators supported obliquely on said pedestals, said insulators having beads of substantially the same diameter formed in their upper and lower ends, flexible clamps engaging on said lower beads, feet on said clamps attached to said pedestals, pins cemented in said insulators for reinforcing the same, said pins having releasable connection with said pedestals, clamps engaging over said upper beads, brackets sup ported on said clamps, switch terminals on said brackets, a pair of parallel switch blades pivoted to one of said terminals, and guiding means for guiding said switch blades into contact with the other terminal.

3. In a disconnect switch for a main line, an insulator support extending substantially parallel to the line, two insulators secured to said support and projecting parallel with each other and inclined to said. support, brackets carried on the tops of the insulators, a switch blade pivoted to one of said brackets, a switch terminal on the other bracket for receiving said switch blade to close the main line, the several striking dis tances between the line, the bracket, and

the blade on the one side, and the insulator supports on the other being substantially uniform.

4-, The improvement herein described comprising an insulator support, a pair of petticoat insulators arranged at an angle of substantially d5 degrees to the support, a switch pivotally mounted on the top of one insulator for opening and closing a circuit, and a cooperating switch terminal mounted upon the top of the other insulator, said switch having a substantially uniform break down strength and being adapted for. either horizontal or vertical mounting.

5. In a high tension main line disconncct ing switch, a metallic support, a pair of insulators, metallic clamping means to secure the said insulators to the said support, said insulators projecting parallel to each other, and inclined with respect to the said support, cooperating switching means mounted on the tops of each of the said insulators, switch securing means for each insulator to secure its carried switching means thereto, the striking distance between the securing means of one of the said insulators, and the clamping means of the other insulator, being not substantially greater than the striking distance between the said securing means and the said metallic support.

6. In combination an insulator, a metallic clamp for the insulator, said clamp having an extending bracket comprising a rib and a web along the side of the rib, said rib being formed at its outer end into a seat for a terminal, a T shaped terminal member having the head of the T placed flat on the seat and the leg of the T forming a projecting contact member, a switch member comprising a pair of blades clamped yieldingly together and adapted to embrace said contact member, and a pair of wrought metal guides of angular formation having one leg of each angle lying on top of the base of the T shaped terminal member and clamping bolts passing through the guides, the base of the contact and the seat, said guides being adapted to guide the switch member upon the contact and to engage the outer surfaces of the blades.

7. In a switch, a pair of switch terminals, a pair of spaced blades pivoted to one of the terminals, said blades being free at their outer ends to have limited move ment toward and away from each other, yielding means pressing the blades toward each other, a non-yielding contact member adapted to be engaged between the outer end of said blades, and yielding guide members lying outside of the contact member for guiding the blades upon the contact member and for making contact with the blades. S. In a switch, a pair of switch terminals, a switchelement comprising a pair of spaced blades pivoted to one of the terminals, said blades being free at their outer ends to have limited movement toward and away from each other, the other of said terminals comprising a non-yielding contact adapted to enter between the blades and yielding means for guiding said spaced blades upon the sides of said contact. 7

9. In a switch, a pair of terminal clips, a pair of parallel switch blades pivoted to one of said clips and having limited yielding movement at their outer ends, said other clips comprising a non-yielding contact adapted to engage between the blades, and yielding guiding members secured on each side of said latter clips the end of said guiding members being diverged to guide each blade between the terminal clip and adjacent member and to sustain any are which might be drawn by opening the switch.

10. In a switch, a movable switch member comprising two parallel spaced blades, a pair of similar terminal clips, one of said clips forming the pivot of said parallel blades, the other terminal being adapted to engage between said blades, a base member integral with said terminal, a pair of wrought metal, horn shaped guiding members secured on each side of said terminal, laterally extending portions on each of said guiding members, screws attaching said laterally extending portions to saidterminal base, said parallel switch blades adapted to lie between said terminal and said guiding members and to have contact with both.

11. In a switch, a movable switch member comprising two parallel spaced blades, a switch terminal adapted to engage between said blades, said blades being adapted to yieldingly engage saidterminal, a base inte 'ral with said terminal a air of wroiwht metal, horn shaped guiding members secured one on each side of said terminal, laterally extending portions on each of said guiding members, screws attaching said laterally extending portions to said terminal base, said parallel switch blades adapted to lie between said terminal and said guiding member and to have contact with both.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day of July, A. D. 1918.

ERNEST H. JACOBS. 

